Cost of Drinking Calculator

Drinking can be an expensive habit. You may not notice a dollar here or two dollars there, but think about how much you spend on alcohol each week. It can add up.

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Average number of drinks per day

Average price per drink (in dollars and cents, for example 4.50)

Days per week that you drinkAverage weekly subtotalYearly total

$

One drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or wine cooler; one 5-ounce glass of wine; or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. The amount of alcohol in any size drink will vary based on the amount of alcohol in the drink. For example, the amount of alcohol in a 12-ounce beer can vary from 4% to 6% or more.

A fifth of distilled spirits contains about 25 1-ounce shots. A quart contains about 32 shots, and a liter contains about 33 shots.

Your results

On average, your drinking costs are per week and per year.

Benefits to health

A daily drink, such as a glass of wine, may lower your risk for heart attack and stroke. For men, a reasonable level is 2 drinks per day. For women, it is no more than 1 drink a day.

Health problems

Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence affect many people in the U.S. Abusing or misusing alcohol can cause serious or even life-threatening problems.

Heavy drinking may raise the risk for cancers of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx. Heavy drinking can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, immune system problems, brain damage, and alcoholic hepatitis. Women are more likely to develop these problems in a shorter time than are men. It can also harm to the fetus during pregnancy. There is no safe level of drinking during pregnancy.

Safety issues

Drinking raises the risk for injury and death from automobile crashes and accidents in the home. Drinking alcohol is tied to family, work, and legal problems. It is also tied to violence, including murder and suicide.

It's important to weigh the costs, benefits, and risks of drinking.

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional healthcare. Always consult a healthcare provider for advice concerning your health. Only your health care provider can advise you about your health.